Sprinkling device



p 4, 1951 E. w. ROSE 2,566,856

SPRINKLING DEVICE Filed Aug. 15, 1948 a relax /6 IN VEN TOR.

ERVIN-W. ROSE BY 777- a .M/

Patented Sept. 4, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPRINKLING DEVICE Ervin W. Rose, Hammond, Ind.

Application August 13, 1948, Serial No. 44,023

4 Claims. (01. 299-47) The present invention relates to sprinklers and more particularly to sprinklers for watering lawns, gardens and the like.

In the use of conventional stationary sprinklers for watering lawns and gardens, it is usually necessary to move the sprinkler frequently from one place to another. Each time the conventional sprinkler is moved it is necessary to turn thewater off at a valve, often some distance from the sprinkler, then move the sprinkler to a new location, and again turn the water on. It is seen that each time the sprinkler is moved, the operator retraces hissteps to and from both the valve and sprinkler. It is therefore one of the principal objects of my invention to provide a sprinkler for watering lawns, gardens and the like, which can readily be turned off, moved, and again turned on with a minimum number of steps and operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lawn and garden sprinkler adapted to receive water through a hose, which can readily be turned off and on from any place along the length of the hose.

Another object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple, compact sprinkler of the aforesaid type which can easily and quickly be regulated to obtain any desired flow of water from the sprinkler. Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawing. Although the detailed description and drawing disclose but one specific embodiment of my sprinkler, it is to be understood that variations in structure of the elements comprising the sprinkler, as well as adaptations of my valve arrangement to other types of fluid delivery devices, are possible without departing from the scope of my invention. I therefore contemplate the use of any or all such variations and adaptions as properly fall within the scope of the invention.

My invention may be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of my sprinkler, showing the sprinkler in operative position;

Figure 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the sprinkler taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1, showing the sprinkler in its inoperative position; and

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the sprinkler taken on line 3-4 of Figure 1.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, in which a preferred form of my invention is shown and in which like reference numerals denote like parts throughout the various views, numeral l0 designates the sprinkler body member, l2 the water inlet, l4 the water outlet, and IS a sprinkler head mounted on the upper end of outlet [4 and secured in place by a coupling I8 threaded onto the outlet extension 20. A coupling 22 is provided at the inlet for connecting a hose onto the sprinkler. While the extension 2|] for the outlet and an insert 24 for the inlet are shown in the drawing threaded into the main body of the sprinkler, it should be appreciated that these members may be formed integrally with the main body, such as would be formed by a single casting of the three members. The type of sprinkler head shown in the drawing has been included only for the purpose of illustration and may be replaced by any other suitable type, such as the propeller orrevolving arm type. In the operation of the sprinkler, the body may normally be inclined toward the inlet end; thus it may be desirable to compensate for this by tilting the sprinkler head slightly in the direction away from the inlet end so that, during operation, the sprinkler head will be directly upright. As an alternative, a leg or runner may be provided beneath the inlet end of the sprinkler to maintain the body level with the ground.

The main body contains a valve 30 adapted to seat over an orifice 32 and to interrupt the flow of water through the sprinkler under certain conditions of operation, as will be more fully explained hereinafter. Valve 30 is mounted on a stem 34 which is supported by and adapted to reciprocate through a bearing in a cross-bar 36 extending vertically across the fluid passageway in the body of the sprinkler. The end of the stem opposite the valve abuts against a rotatable cam 40 rigidly mounted on a shaft 42 and is yieldingly urged into contact with the cam periphery by a spring 44 reacting between cross-bar 36 and a spring retainer 46 mounted near the end of said stem adjacent the cam. The spring thus constantly urges the stem in the valve closing direction and closes said valve when cam 40 is in theposition at which the stem is the farthest to the right as shown in Figure 2. The cam is so contoured that in one position the valve is held from the valve seat with sufficient clearance to permit rapid flow of water through the sprinkler and in another position the valve is permitted to fully close.

Shaft 42 is journalled near each end in the side walls of the body and is rotated by a pair of traction wheels 48 and 50 mounted on and rigidly secured to the ends of shaft 42 by set screws 52 and 54 respectively. The wheels may be of any suitable type that provides enough traction with the ground to rotate when the sprinkler is moved forward or backward, right or left as shown in Figures 1 and 2. In this particular embodiment, I have provided several radial spikes or-pins 56 in the periphery of each wheel, which will press or dig slightly into the ground as the sprinkler is pulled along and thus cause wheels 48 and 56,

shaft 42 and cam 40 to rotate. With each revolu tion of cam All, valve 30 is opened and closed, and

by stopping at any preselected point on the cam wheels rotate earn 40 sufficiently to bring the lowest portion of the cam into registry Withthe end of valve stem 34. With the cam in this position,- valve 30 is fully closed and the now of water through the sprinkler completely stopped. After the sprinkler has been moved to a new location, it can readily be turned on again by pulling on the hose somewhat to rotate the cam one half revolution, at which point the high portion of the cam registers with the'end of the valve stem, thus fully opening the valve and again permitting the water to flow through the sprinkler.

Many variations in the foregoing sprinkler are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, spring 44 mounted on {stem 34 may be omitted without substantially impairing the operation of the sprinkler valve, since the valve is constantly urged toward closed position and stem 34' constantly urged against the periphery of earn 40 by the pressure of'the 'jvvater entering the sprmki'er, The spring has been included to insure complete closing of the "valve when the sprinkler is used under low water pressure conditions. Further, a bell crank and "suitable linkage for eonne'eting it with the valve stem 'may be substituted for the cam. Other modification of the present sprinkler a we'n as other uses therefor will eccur to those skilled in water passage therethrough, a sprinkler head 6 mounted on said member and connected with said passage, a shaft supported by said body member, wheels mounted on each end of said shaft, a cam mounted on said shaft and adapted to rotate in unison with said wheels and shaft, a valve adapted to be closed by the force of the water pressure for controlling the flow of water through said passage, and a stem actuated by saidvalve and being so constructed and arranged that said valve when in closed position tends to remain in closed position.

3. A sprinkler for watering lawns, gardens and the like comprisingabody member having a, water passage therethroug'h, a sprinkler head moii'rited on said member and connected with said passage, a shaft supported by said body member, wheels mounted on-each end of sa-id s'ha ft, a cam mounted on said shaft a-ndada'pted to rotate-in unison withsaid wheels andshaf-t; a valveadapted to be closed the force er the water pressure for controlling the flow of water through said passage, a spring for urging said :valve toward "closed position, and a stem actuated by said cam for opening said valve. a 4. A sprinkler comprising a body member hall mg a water passage therethrougm-a sprinkler head mounted on said member andconected said passage, a rotatable mean mounted on said member, a valve adapted {to be urged" toward closed position-by water pressure for controlling the flow of water through said passa e, a spring for urging Said valve t ward closed position, and means actuated by said rotatable means for op erating said valve and being so constructed and arranged that saidvalve when'in closed position tends to remain in closed position.-

ERVIN W. ROSE. V CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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